Reports from Philippines

Roy Steffensen

locksmith
Silver Member
I am so jealous on our fellow az'er "pooladdict". He arrived in Manila yesterday, and will spend one month in Manila. We travelled together to Manila in February 2007, and this was our first visit to Manila. Since then I have been there 3 times, and Chris is now on his 5th visit.

Since I couldn't make it for this trip, I want Chris to provide us with lots of reports from this month here on AZBilliards. I know Chris loves to read about tournaments, money matches etc, and now it is time to contribute ;) I have even made a thread for you Chris, all you have to do is to post in it now and then :D

I got some texts from him earlier today, and his first report was that he beat Roberto Gomez 7 - 3. Practise only, loser pays the table. At the table next to him Dennis Orcullo and Ronato Alcano were playing 10-ball race to 21 for 100 000 pesos. In the first message he said the score was 7 - 7.

In the next message he sent, Alcano was leading 15 - 13, and Lee Van Corteza had offered Roberto Gomez the 9 in 10-ball, race to 21 for 100 000 pesos, so they were about to start.

It's been hours since I have received text from him, so he has obviously forgotten about me, or he is occupied in losing money to some local Filipino. No matter what, I think it's rude to start with action-reports like that on sms, and not continue to keep me updated till it's over. So, he better give us all a summary on here!

Hopefully Chris will also drop us some lines from the tournament in Bacolod next weekend, where he is one of the 8 seeded international players, and from the Quezon City vs The World, where he will be spectator.

Ok Chris. Up to you to keep the thread alive :D

Enjoy your practise-camp/holiday in Manila!
 

jsp

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Roy Steffensen said:
...and Lee Van Corteza had offered Roberto Gomez the 9 in 10-ball, race to 21 for 100 000 pesos...
This is interesting. Didn't think Gomez would get weight from anyone on the planet.

Thanks for the information. Keep it coming.
 

Roy Steffensen

locksmith
Silver Member
jsp said:
This is interesting. Didn't think Gomez would get weight from anyone on the planet.

Thanks for the information. Keep it coming.

I was actually surprised too, I didn't think Lee Van would spot Roberto. But Lee Van has been playing superb lately, had a good finish in US Open, and beat Shane Van Boening in a race to 25 during World Ten Ball, and perhaps Roberto has not been playing 100 %? Maybe Roberto has lost a couple of bets in a row.

They are very good with the handicaps in Manila, making sure that almost every game is extremely close. Wouldn't be surprised if this match ends up with one of them winning with only a few racks.

Another interesting thing is that the 9-ball isn't really much of a spot between two such strong players... Neither of these players will miss many balls, and most likely the guy who play the best safeties on the rigth time, will win.

Oh, I forgot to say that Roberto doesn't win if he makes the 9 on the break, then it is spotted.
 

Roy Steffensen

locksmith
Silver Member
1 $ = 49,5 pesos

About 2000 $

But this is big money in Philippines. For people working in restaurants it is not uncommon to have a daily salary of 250 - 400 pesos. You can get a San Miguel Lite from about 40 - 80 pesos, a sandwich for 100 pesos, a hotelroom for as cheap as 2000 pesos, a ride with taxi is not much more than 100 pesos...
 
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wahcheck

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
wow

Roy Steffensen said:
1 $ = 49,5 pesos

About 2000 $

But this is big money in Philippines. For people working in restaurants it is not uncommon to have a daily salary of 250 - 400 pesos. You can get a San Miguel Lite from about 40 - 80 pesos, a sandwich for 100 pesos, a hotelroom for as cheap as 2000 pesos, a ride with taxi is not much more than 100 pesos...

That's big action.....especially for what $2000 can buy in the Phillippines...
 

wahcheck

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
big action

However, don't they both have backers? Do they gamble with their own money for this level of action?
 

Roy Steffensen

locksmith
Silver Member
wahcheck said:
However, don't they both have backers? Do they gamble with their own money for this level of action?

I believe that Efren Reyes, Francisco Bustamante and Alex Pagulayan normally bets with their own money.

I seem to remember that Alcano has a chinese-guy as a backer, and when I watched Alex lose to Dennis 32-30 in 10-ball, Dennis had 3 guys next to him sweating that match. They backed him then, and I believe one of them is backing him regulary.

In tournaments these top players in Manila are either sponsored by Bugsy Promotions, Negros or Puyat, and I know that Bugsy sometimes puts them in action also.

When they have a backer they normally receive 20 - 40 % of their winnings, depending on if they have been making cash or not in the last matches they have played for that backer.

I guess some of the local Filipinos can explain better, but that's how I have understood it.
 

wahcheck

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
thanks

Roy Steffensen said:
I believe that Efren Reyes, Francisco Bustamante and Alex Pagulayan normally bets with their own money.

I seem to remember that Alcano has a chinese-guy as a backer, and when I watched Alex lose to Dennis 32-30 in 10-ball, Dennis had 3 guys next to him sweating that match. They backed him then, and I believe one of them is backing him regulary.

In tournaments these top players in Manila are either sponsored by Bugsy Promotions, Negros or Puyat, and I know that Bugsy sometimes puts them in action also.

When they have a backer they normally receive 20 - 40 % of their winnings, depending on if they have been making cash or not in the last matches they have played for that backer.


I guess some of the local Filipinos can explain better, but that's how I have understood it.

Thank you sir for your informative reply.........
 

jay helfert

Shoot Pool, not people
Gold Member
Silver Member
This is how the top filipinos stay sharp. They are CONSTANTLY matching up and playing each other. And that's how they keep the pecking order (tiers) so well defined. It seems like over here the top players rarely match up with each other. Shane is the only one actively looking for action, besides the more well known gamblers.
 

EasyMoney

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I will be in the Philippines next month which pool hall are these matches taking place? Is it a private club?

Thanks
 

Roy Steffensen

locksmith
Silver Member
EasyMoney said:
I will be in the Philippines next month which pool hall are these matches taking place? Is it a private club?

Thanks

If you go to Mabini Street in Malate, Manila, you will find 3 poolhalls within a couple of minutes walking from eachother.

One Side J & Billiards Caf? is the most famous one, and the three times I have been there all the top players have played their matches there. Only top players play here, you will not see any local bangers in there. Everyone can play, and everyone will probably beat you. (No offense)

Fusion Pool Hall opened during summer 2007 I think, and here you can find top pros and locals who are out having fun. I watched Lee Van Corteza play Chia Ching Wu here, and Mika Immonen against Radalfo Luat, so the best players are sometimes here too.

Then there is a new poolhall (I think), and what I have heard is that most of the top players have started to go there now. I haven't been there but have been told that this is also just a few minutes of walking from One Side.

Enjoy your trip to Manila, and please give us some reports ;)
 

Roy Steffensen

locksmith
Silver Member
jay helfert said:
This is how the top filipinos stay sharp. They are CONSTANTLY matching up and playing each other. And that's how they keep the pecking order (tiers) so well defined. It seems like over here the top players rarely match up with each other. Shane is the only one actively looking for action, besides the more well known gamblers.

It is indeed amazing.

I don't think there is anything like it in the world. I have not heard about any other country where you can find the top players constantly challenging eachother. You can find great matchups to sweat every single night in Manila...
 

Purdman

Banned
I want to thank you for this thread Roy. You guys are talking serious pool here. I will be following the thread.
Purd


Roy Steffensen said:
It is indeed amazing.

I don't think there is anything like it in the world. I have not heard about any other country where you can find the top players constantly challenging eachother. You can find great matchups to sweat every single night in Manila...
 

Vahmurka

...and I get all da rolls
Silver Member
Roy Steffensen said:
Hopefully Chris will also drop us some lines from the tournament in Bacolod next weekend, where he is one of the 8 seeded international players, and from the Quezon City vs The World, where he will be spectator.
If Jonathan didn't move the terms for Bacolod tournament I would've been there as well. For the time being I will only visit QC Invasion team match. Hopefully pooladdict shows up here and we decide how to arrange a AZer meeting :)

Then there is a new poolhall (I think), and what I have heard is that most of the top players have started to go there now. I haven't been there but have been told that this is also just a few minutes of walking from One Side.
right, it's about two minutes walk (I add one for you being held by fake watch and viagra sellers in the street). I've been there in 2006 when it was named Rack'n'Roll, now as far as I heard the name is Player's Den, and it is more a poker room than a pool hall (anyway, the number of pool tables must have dropped I suppose).
 

Roy Steffensen

locksmith
Silver Member
Vahmurka said:
right, it's about two minutes walk (I add one for you being held by fake watch and viagra sellers in the street). I've been there in 2006 when it was named Rack'n'Roll, now as far as I heard the name is Player's Den, and it is more a poker room than a pool hall (anyway, the number of pool tables must have dropped I suppose).

Ah, is that just next door to the Hyatt Hotel? A big green sign outside over the door? If so I have walked by it numerous times, but never bothered to enter...
 

jay helfert

Shoot Pool, not people
Gold Member
Silver Member
Vahmurka said:
If Jonathan didn't move the terms for Bacolod tournament I would've been there as well. For the time being I will only visit QC Invasion team match. Hopefully pooladdict shows up here and we decide how to arrange a AZer meeting :)

right, it's about two minutes walk (I add one for you being held by fake watch and viagra sellers in the street). I've been there in 2006 when it was named Rack'n'Roll, now as far as I heard the name is Player's Den, and it is more a poker room than a pool hall (anyway, the number of pool tables must have dropped I suppose).

I played in a 10,000 peso Buy-In game last time I was there. That's the "big game" in Manila. Compared to what I'm used to in L.A. and Vegas this game was soft. A lot of action every hand, and people over playing draws and pairs. I liked it is all I have to say. :rolleyes:
 

Vahmurka

...and I get all da rolls
Silver Member
Roy Steffensen said:
Ah, is that just next door to the Hyatt Hotel? A big green sign outside over the door? If so I have walked by it numerous times, but never bothered to enter...
In case Hyatt is next door to Executive Plaza then is is. I didn't pay much attention to the hotels other than I stayed :) Last year R'n'R was closed, so this year it is opened after renovation and was already active for WTBC, so all I learnt about it was from reports by Jay and local posters. Hope we gonna like it not less than the first time. I loved their stylish scoreboards...

jay helfert said:
Compared to what I'm used to in L.A. and Vegas this game was soft. A lot of action every hand, and people over playing draws and pairs. I liked it is all I have to say. :rolleyes:
I will be accompanied by a couple of poker players looking forward that visit ;) They will like your remark Jay.
 
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